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First off I have something to own up to… I have been totally MIA from my blog during my travels! The reality is these past few weeks have been filled with keeping up with my clients, exploring these amazing places, actually GETTING to and from these amazing places, and spending some quality time with people I care about. I have been so lucky to meet up with friends along the way, and to have my boyfriend come visit for a week with me in France. With only limited time in each location I’ve visited I wanted to make sure I was soaking up as much of the culture as I could instead of being locked to a computer 24/7. Hence, the little break I took from the blog 🙂 But I have so many pictures and stories to share with you so let’s get back to it!

Last we left off was in Barcelona (O how I miss Barcelona already!), about 3 weeks into my stay there. It was my friend’s last day visiting me so after gasping at the amazing sight of the Sagrada Família it was time to get over to another one of the city’s most famous must-sees- Park Güell also by Gaudí. The park was walking distance from my flat in Gracia so we hiked up the hill and lots of stairs to what we thought was the entrance. Turns out we entered into another section nearby which led us to these beautiful spot looking over the city. We probably wouldn’t have ended up here if we went to the main entrance of the park first, one of the things I love about getting a little lost sometimes.

Once we finally found the actual Gaudí park we learned that there was about an hour wait until the next entrance time to get in. Be sure to grab your tickets ahead of time online, unless you don’t mind waiting a bit! For us it was no problem, there is plenty to see in the park outside the famous Gaudí sculpture area that it’s so known for.

After some leisurely strolls and a few photo opps, it was time to go check out a view I had been waiting for months to see. This view of the park, Gaudí’s sculptures and architecture and the city behind, was one I had on my computer desktop and phone background for months leading up to my trip. It was finally right in front of me and I got to take those pictures for myself. We made our way through the park the lower levels, examining the massive columns, mosaic sculptures and tiles along the way.

Another thing checked off my Barcelona to-do list! Which did you like better, Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia or Park Guell?

Next up is a day trip I took into three other cities of Spain close to Barcelona- Girona, Pals and Costa Brava. You won’t believe the views from the park in Girona and the crystal blue waters of Costa Brava!

One of Barcelona’s most famous must-sees is the Basilica of the Sagrada Família, the largest church in the city designed by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí. Although the construction of the church began in 1882 it is still unfinished… and it is insane. Your trip to Barcelona cannot be complete without seeing this amazing place– the details, combination of different architectural styles, and overall grand size of it is an amazing site. I was surprised my weeks in the city leading up to that point I never caught a glimpse of it, but after a quick 20 minute walk from my place my friend and I arrived. Be sure to purchase tickets ahead of time (only 15,00€) because you are assigned specific entrance times into the cathedral- purchasing ahead will let you skip a big wait time to get in!

If the outside of the Sagrada Família isn’t enough to make your jaw drop just wait until you get inside. It was so interesting to me that despite the fact the church is over 100 years old since its construction began, the inside felt extremely futuristic to me. I could probably lay on the floor and stare at the ceiling for hours, and the way the stained glass was arranged it gave the inside a complete spectrum flood of light.

Later that day we decided to experience another amazing site in the city and were determined to find a great rooftop bar nearby. We ended up deciding on the Skybar on the rooftop of the Grand Hotel Central and it was the perfect place to relax with a glass (or two!) of Spanish wine and enjoy the sunset.

The next day we had reserved a spot for a brunch sailing trip with Sailing Experience Barcelona. After browsing a lot of sailing options available in Barcelona we decided on this one because #1 the price was right, #2 it came with free drinks, and #3 it wasn’t a total booze cruise. You know you’re inching toward 30 when the idea of a booze cruise sounds like a crowded boat with a group of young people getting too drunk and being super annoying. I mean we wanted to do some nice day drinking like everyone does, but we also wanted it to be a relaxing experience. After a few croissants, cheese and cured meats, we set off out of the marina with glasses of white wine in hand. Our skipper was wonderful, not only was she very attentive (even provided us with fleece jackets when it got chilly out in the water) but she was extremely knowledgable about Barcelona’s history which we learned about while gazing back at the city from the water.

When we returned safely to shore we took a short walk over to Barceloneta Beach, ordered a bottle of Cava, and enjoyed some bubbles with more ocean views. For me it was so nice to actually take an entire day off from work, no laptop was opened that day. After an afternoon nap (much needed after a lot of sun and a little day buzz!) we ended the night with some delicious sushi.

What did you think of Gaudí’s Sagrada Família? Pretty cool right?! The next day we went to another one of his famous places in Barcelona (another must-see of course). Check back at the next post to see our experience at the beautiful Park Güell.